Steve Weatherford posts heartfelt farewell message to Giants fans after release (VIDEO)

Steve Weatherford was released by the Giants Friday afternoon and the veteran punter didn’t leave without a fond farewell to his fans.

The Twitter-happy Weatherford, one of the hardest-working and most popular players on the team, posted this sincere message with his wife Laura and their four children a few hours after being cut:

Thank You @Giants and the most amazing fans in the @nfl #OnceAGiantAlwaysAGiant https://t.co/oFuT4NEBDy

— Steve Weatherford (@Weatherford5) September 4, 2015

The 32-year-old Weatherford was signed as a free agent from the Jets in 2011. He was a key contributor to the Super Bowl XLVI team and spent four seasons with the Giants.

Head coach Tom Coughlin, no stranger to seeing fan favorites get cut loose, got emotional about the amicable breakup.

"He's been just an exceptional, exceptional human being," Coughlin said Friday. "The enthusiasm, the passion, the way that he had a unique ability to touch people in all parts of life . . . Steve had a very unique ability to come into a room, be the light in the room, and get people excited and emotional or speak to them in remarks which showed compassion."

They don't come with much more class or generosity than Weatherford.